Artist impression of Queen Street, Newton AbbotWith work due to start next summer on the enhancement of Queen Street in Newton Abbot, we’re looking ahead to what changes you can expect in this part of the town.
The scheme aims to make Queen Street a safer, more attractive, healthier and greener place for visitors and businesses.
Widened footways, improved crossings, enhanced planting of trees and greenery with additional public seating will enhance the area for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, providing additional space and better access to shops and services.
Queen Street will remain accessible for all traffic wanting to get to the businesses there, and lots of the on-street parking remains unaltered. To open up the area and enhance the shopping experience for residents and visitors, access on the small section of Queen Street beyond the junction with Albany Street will be restricted to buses, pedestrians, cycles and loading.
Taxis will still be able to access this area to pick up or drop off passengers, and vehicles displaying a blue badge will also have access to stop and pick up or set down a blue badge holder. Traffic parking in spaces on Queen Street between the War Memorial and Albany Street will be able to exit Queen Street via Albany Street. Traffic heading to public car parks, such as Cricketfield, Halcyon and the Multi-Story will be encouraged to access via The Avenue and Kingsteignton Road.
The locality will be well served with parking spaces; with 26 on-street parking spaces retained on Queen Street between the War Memorial and Albany Street, as well as Teignbridge District Council’s expansive car park at Cricketfield Road (over 300-spaces), the short-stay Halcyon Road car park (115-spaces) and three new disabled bays outside Pearl Assurance House, opposite Snappy Snaps. There will also be two new blue badge holder spaces on Queen Street and a new zebra crossing (both close to the War Memorial), as well as raised-table pedestrian-priority crossings at the side-road junctions along Queen Street, to support pedestrian movement in particular for less-mobile visitors.
The scheme has received Future High Street Funding following a successful bid by Teignbridge District Council, and we secured £500,000 of Active Travel funding towards the scheme.
Teignbridge District Council Leader Martin Wrigley, who has responsibility for the Future High Streets Fund delivery, said: “These proposals will make Newton Abbot town centre a much better place to visit, as well as making it a safer and healthier place for residents. People’s shopping habits have changed, and many don’t go into towns just to shop. Covid has further changed habits as well. We need to make sure Queen Street is an attractive and viable place for people to spend time, as well as using the shops and other services. Whether they browse, walk or cycle, meet and eat, or enjoy a cultural experience Newton Abbot will be truly back on the map.
“We’ll continue to work with traders and businesses in the area to transition to the new vibrant, safe and attractive town centre that will appeal equally to residents and visitors to the town, and to highlight the many benefits of supporting the local economy.”
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:
“We want town centres to be safer and healthier for people to walk around and enjoy, and this scheme will create a much-enhanced environment in this part of Newton Abbot town centre. Reducing the amount of through traffic will improve air quality and by providing more space and better crossing areas, shoppers will be able to make the most of the businesses and facilities in Queen Street.”
Councillor Phil Bullivant, County Councillor for Newton Abbot North, said:
“The overwhelming view amongst residents, planners, most councillors and those with a keen interest in the successful future of Newton Abbot believe that improving the town centre environment to attract more people is vital for the future prosperity of the town, including its retail businesses. These plans are designed to deliver solutions that have been demonstrated to work in similar towns. We must show our commitment to the town and support actions designed to deliver the outcomes most want to see, a vibrant forward-looking Newton Abbot that will be the leading market town in Teignbridge and ultimately in Devon.”
There is further scheme information available via Teignbridge District Council’s webpage for the Newton Abbot Future High Street Fund.
